Klin Onkol 2016; 29(2): 122-126. DOI: 10.14735/amko2016122.
Background: The aim of this study was to determine the percentage of discordance between clinical (c) and pathological (p) TNM classifi cations
in cases of oropharyngeal carcinoma and whether it infl uences recurrence rate and prognosis of primary disease. Materials and Methods: Fifty-
-one patients with oropharyngeal carcinoma who underwent primary surgical treatment were included in this retrospective study. Clinical TNM
was determined on the basis of clinical examinations and imaging (US, CT, or MRI), and pathological TNM was determined by a histopathologist
(analysis of the primary tumor and neck lymph nodes). Concordance and discordance were statistically evaluated. As potential prognostic
factors, we statistically analyzed tumor recurrence, specifi c and nonspecifi c patient survival, patient age, extent of primary tumor, lymph node
positivity, number of removed lymph nodes, and positive tumor margins. Results: Discordance in the TNM classifi cation was found in 27 cases.
Disease-free survival was shorter in patients with discordance in T, and this was statistically signifi cant (p = 0.034). Six patients died due to primary disease (11.8%). Disease-specifi c survival was at the limit of statistical signifi cance (p = 0.069). Conclusions: Discordance between clinical and pathological TNM classifi cations was 52.9% patients with oropharyngeal carcinoma. Discordance in T is a potential prognostic factor. Improvement in cancer treatment to some extent relies on preoperative staging and should infl uence the decision about whether or not to administer adjuvant oncological treatment.
